ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – Hailey Swirbul led the University of Alaska Anchorage ski team by winning the junior women’s 10-kilometer freestyle race at the US National Championships at Kincaid Park Wednesday (Jan. 3). Swirbul placed eighth overall and third among Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association competitors with a time of 28:39.4.

“I was really impressed with Hailey’s performance today,” said head Nordic coach Andrew Kastning. “She skied really well in some tough conditions today.”

The Seawolves had five other women finish in the top-20 among RIMSA skiers. Hannah Rudd was 12th (30:53.1) and Jenna Difolco was 15th (31:13.3). Casey Wright finished 17th (31:26.2), Michaela Keller-Miller was 19th (31:30.3) and Saide Fox was 20th (31:30.8).

Toomas Kollo led the UAA men with a sixth place finish among RIMSA skiers in the 15-kilometer freestyle race in a time of 38:54.9.

“Toomas had an awesome race today after coming back from injury last year,” said Kastning. “He had a strong fall of training and it is showing in his racing.”